On the official website, the group declared its mission statement: "We provide an open forum for the games industry to collaborate on research and best practices that encourage fair play and healthy communities in online gaming. We envision a world where games are free of harassment, discrimination, and abuse, and where players can express themselves through play."

It's no secret why the creator of such an alliance is necessary. Countless games firms struggle to keep up with the abusive and toxic behaviour spreading through their multiplayer communities.

Perhaps most famously, Blizzard has spoken out about the actions required to moderate the Overwatch userbase, with more than 480,000 players dealt with over the course of 18 months. Efforts to reduce toxicity among players became so extensive that director Jeff Kaplan revealed it was slowing progress on the game's ongoing development.

Earlier this year, Kaplan reported that Blizzard had gained some ground in this fight and other firms are starting for feel more optimistic. Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin told us last year that he saw "a glimmer of hope" in the battle against toxic behaviour, but no doubt both firms hope this new Alliance will accelerate matters.

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